Alternate Picking...

[Clashed]

Alright.
I'm in serouis need. I play punk, but finger. Surpising?
But, my band says I should just pick, I don't like the idea, but it does sound better. I used to pick, but stoped for a year or so. Now, I find myself struggling to alternate pick.
Any suggestions?

[Marly]

Practice doing it. Not really anything else to it im afraid.

[Left Shoe]

you could pick, or 3 finger technique, or double thumb

[faelun]

alternate picking?

[greyghost]

just grab a pick and flick it up and down, it just comes naturally after a while mate, keep trying and you'll get it in the end

[Naveed Afzal]

Or... play with your thumb,index and middle.

[Luchesi]

Throw in a bit of forearm motion: makes ALL the difference in the world. If you rely only on your wrist to make the motion, you'll tire out quickly and the "accuracy" of your playing will greatly decrease.

You DO realize, however, that you could get the same "pick" sound by playing with your nails, turning up the treble, and/or playing closer to the bridge... right?

[TheBassStylee]

ugh.. i HATE picking.. but if you do happen to "like" the tone, grow your nails a little longer on your plucking hand, and it will have a similar tone.. like luchesi said

> mike

[Luchesi]

ugh.. i HATE picking.. but if you do happen to "like" the tone, grow your nails a little longer on your plucking hand, and it will have a similar tone.. like luchesi said

> mike

Yeah, I'm not a fan of it either, but it's nice for guitar.

There are some pick players that are very good though.

IMO, however, there's really nothing a pick can do that you can't sooner or later accomplish/surpass with your fingers.

[Luchesi]

In fact, what the hell are any of us saying here!?

Clashed: if this band is forcing you to play in a way that you don't enjoy playing, quit it!

[WHoRRID]

theres **** i prefer about picks, it does have u tone that u CANT GET with your fingers even your nails. sure its simillar but if that the tone he wants he should use a pick. i can play some things with a pick better than my fingers. and pinch harmonics are so much fun with a pick.

[jollygiantchris]

Alright.
I'm in serouis need. I play punk, but finger. Surpising?
But, my band says I should just pick, I don't like the idea, but it does sound better. I used to pick, but stoped for a year or so. Now, I find myself struggling to alternate pick.
Any suggestions?
thing is you dont seem to particularly enjoy playing with a pick by your post this i am guessing. so heres my suggestion to you *ahem* whichever band member suggested this to you you need 2 start giving them irritating advice that they do not need about how to play their instrument until they stop trying to tell you how to play. if your band demands you play with a pick and it really isnt your thing than don't do it

[PaulR]

Tell your band they all should play with fingers.

[Az_Holl]

If they like a pick sound just whack on heaps of treble

[Luchesi]

theres **** i prefer about picks, it does have u tone that u CANT GET with your fingers even your nails. sure its simillar but if that the tone he wants he should use a pick. i can play some things with a pick better than my fingers. and pinch harmonics are so much fun with a pick.

I can do pinch harmonics with my fingers. If anything, it's easier because the nail and the flesh are connected, so all you have to do is flick your finger right and you can do a pinch.

In fact, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jaco do pinch harmonics with his fingers?

And yes, actually, given proper amp settings and finger placement, you'd never know the difference between pick and fingers.

[Luchesi]

If they like a pick sound just whack on heaps of treble

123

[kilian]

A pick will really sound different, no matter what you say or add to your sound.

[cAPS_lOCK]

A pick will really sound different, no matter what you say or add to your sound.

Quoted for tr00f.

[WHoRRID]

I can do pinch harmonics with my fingers. If anything, it's easier because the nail and the flesh are connected, so all you have to do is flick your finger right and you can do a pinch.

In fact, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jaco do pinch harmonics with his fingers?

And yes, actually, given proper amp settings and finger placement, you'd never know the difference between pick and fingers.

i never said u cant do them without a pick i just prefer the sound+feel of pinch harmonics with a pick. IMO they sound so much better. i find do using ur fingers is better with a fretless tho. u have so many options then.

[TheBassStylee]

Tell your band they all should play with fingers.
123

LMAO :lol:
this made me crack up, but see what happens and say it

> mike

[Spencer]

well the sounds of your fingers are totally diffrent from a pick. You don't have to use a pick to play punk its just a sound that most punk bassists use.